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Succession  of  Joseph  III 

Is  Joseph  III  the  True  Successor  of  Joseph 

the  Prophet  in  the  office  of  President 

of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 

of    Latter-day    Saints 


A  DISCUSSION 

WRITTEN  BY 

O.  A.  MURDOCK 

OF     BEAVER    CITY,    UTAH 


THE    DESERET    NEWS 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

1913 


Copyright  1913  by 
JOSEPH   F.   SMITH 
Trustee-in-Trust  for  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints 


.„.,., 

i    I  I'  l\  /',  K  i 

^r 


DEDICATED 

TO  MY  DEAR  FATHER 

JOHN  R.  MURDOCK 


ENDORSEMENT. 

The  undersigned  take  pleasure  in  recom- 
mending this  book  to  the  consideration  of  all 
who  are  interested  in  the  subject  on  which  it 
treats.  We  approve  of  its  contents,  after  hav- 
ing carefully  examined  it,  and  we  hope  it  will 
have  the  effect  intended  by  the  writer.  He 
presents  his  arguments  from  a  legal  standpoint 
and  in  a  somewhat  different  manner  from  any- 
thing of  the  kind  which  has  heretofore  been 
attempted. 

JOSEPH  F.  SMITH, 
ANTHON  H.  LUND, 
CHARLES  W.  PENROSE, 
First  Presidency  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 
January  30,  1913. 


INTRODUCTION. 

In  assuming  to  write  a  discussion  of  the 
question  "Is  Joseph  III  the  true  successor  of 
Joseph  the  Prophet,  in  the  office  of  President 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints?"  it  is  necessary  that  some  reason  for 
doing  so  be  given. 

For  many  years  there  has  been  a  discussion 
of  this  question ;  and  for  some  years  the  writer 
has  interested  himself  in  this  question,  to  the 
extent  that  he  has  made  considerable  search 
of  the  records  to  convince  himself  as  to  how 
this  should  be  answered,  in  a  brief  and  direct 
manner. 

The  books  I  shall  refer  to  need  mention  at 
this  point. 

A.  The  Bible  in  common  use  will  be  re- 
ferred to  for  two  quotations. 

B.  The  Doctrine  and  Covenants  in  use  in 
the    Church    of    Jesus    Christ    of    Latter-day 
Saints,  -published  by  the  Deseret   News   Co., 

[7] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


1890,  and  when  referred  to  herein  will  be  ab- 
breviated as  D.  C. 

C.  The  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  in  use  in 
the  so-called  reorganized  church,  and  known 
as  the  Twenty-sixth  edition,   printed  by  the 
"Board    of    Publication    of    the    Reorganized 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
1901,"  and  hereinafter  abbreviated  as  DC. 

D.  The  Times  and  Seasons,  Volumes  IV 
and  V,  published  at  the  City  of  Nauvoo  be- 
tween the  15th  of  November,   1842,  and  the 
1st   day   of  January,    1845,   and   abbreviated 
herein  as  Times  and  Seasons. 

E.  Abstract  of   Evidence   in   Temple  Lot 
Suit,  being  a  printed  abstract  of  the  evidence  in 
a  suit  tried  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States,  Western  District  of  Missouri,  Western 
Division,  at  Kansas  City,    published    by    the 
Herald    Publishing    House    and    Bindery,    at 
Lamoni,  Iowa.     This  was  a  suit  between  the 
so-called  Reorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints,  as  Complainant,  against 
the  Church  of  Christ  [known  as  the  "Hedrick- 

[8] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


ites]  at  Independence,  Mo.,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  the  title  to  the  Temple  Lots.  This  was 
published  under  the  direction  of  the  so-called 
reorganized  church.  It  will  be  referred  to 
herein  as  Abstract  of  Evidence. 

In  order  to  explain  the  name  Joseph  III, 
it  would  be  well  to  say  that  Joseph  Smith,  the 
father  of  the  Prophet,  is  called  Joseph  I ; 
Joseph  Smith  Junior,  the  Prophet,  is  known 
as  Joseph  II;  and  Joseph,  the  son  of  the 
Prophet,  and  president  of  the  so-called  reor- 
ganized church,  is  known  as  Joseph  III. 

In  discussing  this  question,  it  will  be  my 
aim  to  confine  my  argument  strictly  to  the 
proposition,  to  present  no  evidence  except  such 
as  would  be  entitled  to  consideration  in  a  court, 
and  to  make  my  quotations  exact. 

Hoping  that  my  work  will  be  of  help  to 
those  desirous  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
subject,  I  am. 

Sincerely, 

O.  A.  MURDOCK, 
BEAVER,  UTAH. 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


PROPOSITION. 

Is  Joseph  III  the  true  successor  of  Joseph, 
the  Prophet,  as  President  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints? 

TEXT. 

"For  what  man  knoweth  the  things  of  a 
man,  save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him? 
even  so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man, 
but  the  Spirit  of  God." 

I  Corinthians,  Chap.  2,  v.  11. 

The  Elders  of  the  so-called  Reorganized 
Church  claim: 

1.  That  God  was  to  appoint  the  successor 
of  Joseph  the  prophet  in  accordance  with  this 
law : 

"1.     Behold,   I  say  unto  thee,  Oliver, 
that  it  shall  be  given  unto  thee,  that  thou 
[11] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


shall  be  heard  by  the  church  in  all  things 
whatsoever  thou  shalt  teach  them  by  the 
Comforter,  concerning  the  revelations  and 
commandments  which  I  have  given. 

"2.  But,  behold,  verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  no  one  shall  be  appointed  to 
receive  commandments  and  revelations  in 
this  church,  excepting  my  servant  Joseph 
Smith,  jun.,  for  he  receiveth  them  even  as 
Moses ; 

"3.  And  thou  shalt  be  obedient  unto 
the  things  which  I  shall  give  unto  him, 
even  as  Aaron,  to  declare  faithfully  the 
commandments  and  the  revelations,  with 
power  and  authority  unto  the  church. 

"4.  And  if  thou  art  led  at  any  time 
by  the  Comforter,  to  speak  or  teach,  or  at 
all  times  by  the  way  of  commandment 
unto  the  church,  thou  mayest  do  it. 

"5.  But  thou  shalt  not  write  by  way 
of  commandment,  but  by  wisdom; 

"6.  And  thou  shalt  not  command  him 
who  is  at  thy  head,  and  at  the  head  of  the 
church, 

"7.  For  I  have  given  him  the  keys  of 
the  mysteries,  and  the  revelations  which 
[12] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


are  sealed,  until  I  shall  appoint  unto  them 
another  in  his  stead." 

D.  C.  Sec.  28  vs.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7. 

"18.  And  I  have  given  him  the  keys 
of  the  mystery  of  those  things  which  have 
been  sealed,  even  things  which  were  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  and  the  things 
which  shall  come  from  this  time  until  the 
time  of  my  coming,  if  he  abide  in  me,  and 
if  not,  another  will  I  plant  in  his  stead. 

D.  C.  Sec.  35  v.  18. 

2.  That  Joseph's  successor  must  have  been 
appointed  by  revelation  given  to  Joseph  the 
prophet,  according  to  the  following  rule: 

"2.  For  behold,  verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  that  ye  have  received  a  com- 
mandment for  a  law  unto  my  church, 
through  him  whom  I  have  appointed  unto 
you,  to  receive  commandments  and  reve- 
lations from  my  hand. 

"3.  And  this  ye  shall  know  assuredly, 
that  there  is  none  other  appointed  unto 
you  to  receive  commandments  and  reve- 
[13] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


lations  until  he  be  taken,  if  he  abide  in 
me 

"4.  But  verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
that  none  else  shall  be  appointed  unto 
this  gift  except  it  be  through  him,  for  if 
it  be  taken  from  him,  he  shall  not  have 
power  except  to  appoint  another  in  his 
stead ; 

"5.  And  this  shall  be  a  law  unto  you, 
that  ye  receive  not  the  teachings  of  any 
that  shall  come  before  you  as  revelations 
or  commandments; 

"6.  And  this  I  give  unto  you  that  you 
may  not  be  deceived,  that  you  may  know 
they  are  not  of  me." 

D.  C.  Sec.  43  vs.  2,  3,  4,  5/6. 

3.  That  he  must  have  been  ordained  and  by 
direction  of  a  High  Council  or  General  Con- 
ference of  the  Church,  to  comply  with  the  re- 
quirements of  the  law : 

"67.     Every    President    of    the    High 
Priesthood    (or  presiding  elder),  bishop, 
High  Councilor  and  High  Priest  is  to  be 
[14] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


ordained  by  the  direction  of  a  High  Coun- 
cil or  general  conference." 
D.  C.  Sec.  20  v.  67. 

"10.  Thou  shalt  not  leave  this  place 
until  after  the  conference,  and  my  servant 
Joseph  shall  be  appointed  to  preside  over 
the  conference  by  the  voice  of  it,  and  what 
he  saith  to  thee  thou  shalt  tell." 
D.  C.  Sec.  28  v.  10. 

"7.  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he 
that  is  ordained  of  me  shall  come  in  at 
the  gate  and  be  ordained  as  I  have  told 
you  before,  to  teach  those  revelations 
which  you  have  received,  and  shall  re- 
ceive through  him  whom  I  have  appoint- 
ed." 

D.  C.  Sec.  43  v.  7. 

"22.     Of  the  Melchisedek  Priesthood, 
three  presiding  high  priests,  chosen  by  the 
body,  appointed  and  ordained  to  that  of- 
fice, and  upheld  by  the  confidence,  faith 
and  prayer  of  the  church,  form  a  quorum 
of  the  Presidency  of  the  church." 
D.  C.  Sec.  107  v.  22. 
[15] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


4.  That  he  must  be  the  head  of  the  posterity 
of  Joseph  the  prophet,  according  to  the  rule  set 
out  in  the  following  passages  of  the  law : 

"39.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Twelve,  in 
all  large  branches  of  the  church,  to  ordain 
evangelical  ministers,  as  they  shall  be  des- 
ignated unto  them  by  revelation. 

"40.  The  order  of  this  priesthood  was 
confirmed  to  be  handed  down  from  father 
to  son,  and  rightly  belongs  to  the  literal 
descendents  of  the  chosen  seed,  to  whom 
the  promises  were  made. 

"41.  This  order  was  instituted  in  the 
days  of  Adam,  and  came  down  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  by  lineage:" 

D.  C.  Sec.  107  vs.  39,  40,  41. 

"56.  And  now  I  say  unto  you,  as  per- 
taining to  my  boarding  house  which  I 
have  commanded  you  to  build  for  the 
boarding  of  strangers,  let  it  be  built  unto 
my  name,  and  let  my  name  be  named  upon 
it,  and  let  my  servant  Joseph,  and  his 
house  have  place  therein,  from  generation 
to  generation; 

[16] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


"57.  For  this  anointing  have  I  put 
upon  his  head,  that  his  blessing  shall  be 
put  upon  the  head  of  his  posterity  after 
him, 

"58.  And  as  I  said  unto  Abraham  con- 
cerning the  kindreds  of  the  earth,  even  so 
I  say  unto  my  servant  Joseph,  in  thee 
and  in  thy  seed  shall  the  kindred  of  the 
earth  be  blessed." 

D.  C.  Sec.  124  vs.  56,  57,  58. 

5.  That  he  must  be  called  a  prophet,  seer 
and  revelator  in  accordance  with  the  law  found 
in  the  following : 

"1.  Behold  there  shall  be  a  record  kept 
among  you,  and  in  it  thou  shalt  be  called 
a  seer,  a  translator,  a  prophet,  an  apostle 
of  Jesus  Christ,  an  elder  of  the  church, 
through  the  will  of  God  the  Father,  and 
the  grace  of  your  Lord  Jesus  Christ/' 

D.  C.  Sec.  21  v.  1. 

To  summarize  these  claims  of  the  so-called 
Reorganized  Church,  the  true  successor  must 
[17] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


have  been  appointed  by  God,  through  a  revela- 
tion given  to  Joseph,  the  prophet,  and  must 
have  been  ordained  by  direction  of  a  High 
Council,  or  general  conference  of  the  church; 
and  he  must  be  the  head  of  the  posterity  of  Jos- 
eph, the  prophet,  and  must  be  called  a  prophet, 
seer  and  revelator. 

It  is  a  logical  conclusion,  that,  if  the  require- 
ments made  by  the  so-called  reorganized 
church,  or  any  one  of  them,  should  be  found 
wanting  in  the  case  of  Joseph  III,  he  is  not 
the  true  successor  to  the  prophet,  as  president 
of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints. 

It  will  be  the  aim  of  this  argument  to  show 
that  Joseph  III  is  not  the  true  successor  of 
Joseph  the  Prophet. 

QUOTATION. 

"To  the  Law  and  the  Testimony:  if 
they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it 
is  because  there  is  no  light  in  them." 

8  Isaiah  v.  20. 
[18] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


We  shall  show: 

I.  That  Joseph  III  was  not  appointed  by 
God. 

II.  That  he  was  not  appointed  by  a  revela- 
tion given  through  his  father,  the  prophet. 

III.  That  he  was  not  ordained  by  direction 
of  a  High  Council,  nor  a  general  conference  of 
the  church. 

IV.  That  the  claims  made  by  the  so-called 
reorganized  church,  that  the  office  of  president 
of  the  church  should  descend  to  the  head  of 
the  posterity  of  Joseph,  the  prophet,  is  not  in 
accordance  with  the  law.   (A)  Because  the  law, 
Sec.  107  D.  C.  vs.  39-41,  does  not  justify  such 
conclusion.     (B)   Because  the  law,   Sec.    124 
D.  C.  vs.  56-61,  does  not  justify  such  conclu- 
sion.     (C)   Because  the  so-called  reorganized 
church  repudiates  both  of  these  sections.      (D) 
Because  Joseph  III,  under  oath,  repudiates  both 
of  these  sections,  and  the  conclusion  sought  to 
be  drawn  from  them. 

V.  That  Joseph  III  has  not  been  called  a 

[191 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


prophet,  seer  and  revelator,  and  does  not  call 
his  purported  revelations  by  the  name  of  reve- 
lations but  does  call  them  deliverances. 

VI.  That  the  purported  selection  of  Joseph 
III  by  the  so-called  reorganized  church  is  in 
direct  opposition  to  the  call  of  Joseph  the 
prophet. 


[20] 


I. 

JOSEPH  III  WAS  NOT  APPOINTED  BY 
GOD  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE 
CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF 
LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

A.  The  pretended  revelation  said  to  have 
been  given  to  Jason  W.  Briggs  was  never 
adopted  by  the  so-called  reorganized  church, 
and  it  was  expressly  repudiated  by  Joseph 
III.  He  said  in  effect  that  he  would  never 
have  anything  to  do  with  the  presidency  of  the 
church  unless  he  should  receive  a  call  from  his 
heavenly  Father. 

W.  W.  Blair,  testifying  in  the  Temple  Lot 
suit  says : 

"It  was  known  that  Mr.  Smith  was 
present  and  wanted  to  address  the  body  of 
the  people  present.  He  was  invited  to  do 
so,  and  made  an  address,  and  in  that  ad- 
dress stated  that  for  years  past  his  mind 
[21]  ' 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


had  been  enlightened  in  respect  to  the 
work  of  the  church,  and  that  it  had  been 
signified  to  him  that  he  should  become 
identified  with  the  church.  He  also  stated 
that  he  had  been  solicited  by  various  fac- 
tions of  the  church  to  unite  with  them  as 
the  presiding  officer  over  their  respective 
organizations,  but  had  declined  doing  it, 
saying  at  the  time  that  he  answered  one 
and  all  that  he  never  would  have  anything 
to  do  with  the  work  of  the  church,  and 
especially  with  the  work  of  the  presidency, 
unless  he  was  conscious  in  his  own  heart 
that  he  was  called  of  God  for  that  purpose. 
The  very  words  he  used  I  think  are  found 
in  the  address  he  had  printed,  or  I  should 
say,  in  the  address  as  printed  and  are 
"unless"  he  "should  receive  a  call  from 
his  heavenly  Father." 

Abstract  of  Evidence  pages  107-108. 

Jason  W.  Briggs,  in  his  evidence,  does  not 
mention  any  revelation  as  having  been  received 
by  him,  but  does  mention  one  as  having  been 
received  through  Henry  Beam. 
[22] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 

"I  would  say  that  the  choosing  and  or- 
daining these  members  of  the  Twelve, 
High  Priests,  and  Seventies  was  partly 
by  virtue  of  revelation,  and  partly  by  ac- 
tion of  the  conference. 

"That  particular  revelation  that  is  re- 
ferred to  in  that  last  answer  was  given  to 
Henry  Beam;  he  acted  as  counselor  at 
that  conference." 

Abstract  of  Evidence  page  397. 

B.  The  pretended  revelation  given  through 
Joseph  III  was  never  adopted  by  the  so-called 
reorganized  church.  It  is  not  found  nor  men- 
tioned in  their  Book  of  Covenants.  Just  a  word 
as  to  the  requisites  of  a  revelation  according 
to  the  test  of  Joseph  III. 

"I  said  yesterday  that  in  order  for  rev- 
elations to  become  authentic  and  binding 
upon  the  church  as  authoritative,  they 
must  first  pass  through  the  quorums  of 
the  church,  and  be  accepted  by  the  body 
of  the  church.  I  did  not  say,  and  have 
not  said,  that  all  revelations  to  be  authen- 
[23] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


tic  and  of  binding  force  upon  the  church 
must  be  presented  to  the  quorums,  and  be 
approved  by  them;  I  said  that  before  a 
revelation,  or  what  purports  to  be  a  revela- 
tion, could  be  accepted  as  binding  upon 
the  church,  it  must  be  submitted  to  that 
ordeal." 

Abstract  of  Evidence  pages  61-62. 

C.  Neither  of  these  pretended  revelations 
purports  to  come  through  the  prophet,  Joseph 
Smith,  and  hence  would  have  absolutely  no 
weight  under  their  own  rule,  as  above  set  out. 


[24] 


II. 

JOSEPH  III  WAS  NOT  APPOINTED  BY 
ANY  REVELATION  PURPORTING 
TO  HAVE  BEEN  GIVEN  TO  JOSEPH, 
THE  PROPHET. 

A.  The  pretended  selection  or  appointment 
mentioned  by  Lyman  Wight,  when  Joseph  was 
in  Liberty  Jail,  in  Missouri,  is  without  any 
foundation  and  is  proven  to  be  against  the 
evidence. 

His  first  act  bearing  on  this  question,  after 
the  martyrdom  of  the  prophet  was  to  claim  the 
successorship  himself,  and  to  divert  a  number 
of  the  weakminded  to  his  following  and  lead 
them  off  to  Texas. 

Joseph  III  in  his  testimony  says : 

"There  was  also  a  faction  under  the 
leadership  of  one  of  the  original  Twelve, 
Lyman  Wight,  that  located  in  Texas,  he 
was  one  of  the  Twelve  at  the  time  of  my 
father's  death." 

Abstract  of  Evidence  page  85. 
[25] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


He  [Wight]  never  mentioned  such  an  occur- 
rence until  years  after  the  death  of  the  prophet 
and  until  he  had  lost  his  prestige  with  his 
brethren. 

If  he  had  such  knowledge  why  did  he  claim 
the  leadership? 

The  very  fact,  that  no  mention  of  such  se- 
lection or  appointment  is  made  in  either  the 
history  of  Joseph,  written  by  his  doting  mother, 
Lucy  Smith,  nor  in  the  affidavit  of  Hyrum 
Smith,  in  which  he  related  fully  the  circum- 
stances of  the  arrest  and  imprisonment ;  nor  in 
any  letter  or  published  statement  of  the 
prophet;  and  the  further  fact  that  no  mention 
is  made  of  such  occurrence  in  the  Times  and 
Seasons  nor  the  Millenial  Star,  in  which  we 
would  expect  to  find  mention  of  a  matter  so 
important,  shows  that  no  such  thing  occurred. 

B.  The  pretended  selection  and  ordination 
mentioned  by  James  Whitehead,  is  not  only 
not  substantiated  but  is  disproven  by  the  evi- 
dence. 

[26] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


This  appointment  or  selection  would  have 
been  of  most  vital  importance  to  the  church 
and  all  the  people,  and  would  certainly  have 
been  mentioned  in  some  of  the  publications  of 
the  church,  of  that  day. 

If  so  important  a  selection  or  ordination  had 
been  made  and  the  prophet  had  intended  it  as 
an  official  selection  of  his  successor,  he  would 
have  caused  a  record  to  be  made  then  and 
there ;  the  church  organs,  The  Times  and  Sea- 
sons, the  Millenial  Star,  would  have  published 
it  to  the  world;  we  would  find  mention  of  it 
in  the  writings  of  Joseph  himself.  The  call 
and  appointment  would  have  been  a  revelation 
and  would  have  been  recorded  and  carefully 
kept,  as  one  of  the  most  important  documents 
of  the  church. 

Take  the  testimony  of  some  of  the  so-called 
leading  men  in  the  church :  James  J.  Strang, 
Alpheus  Cutler,  Charles  B.  Thompson,  Gladden 
Bishop,  James  Colin  Brewster,  William  Bick- 
erton,  Granville  Hedrick,  William  Davis, 
[27] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Joseph  Morris,  David  Whitmer,  Zadock 
Brooks,  W.  A.  Miner,  and  Dr.  McLellan,  each 
and  all  of  these  men  dispute  any  such  thing  by 
their  acts,  as  each  one  claimed  to  be  the  true 
successor  and  led  off  quite  a  following. 

In  the  language  of  Joseph  III : 

"There  have  been  a  great  many  churches 
since  1844  that  claimed  to  be  the  successor 
of  the  original  church  founded  in  1830. 
Their  name  is  almost  legion.  There  was 
the  organization  that  went  west  under  the 
presidency  of  Brigham  Young,  and  there 
was  another  under  the  leadership  of  James 
J.  Strang,  at  Voree,  Wisconsin,  and 
Beaver  Island  in  Lake  Michigan;  there 
was  an  organization  under  Alpheus  Cut- 
ler, at  Fisher's  Green,  Iowa,  and  there  was 
one  at  Preparation,  Iowa,  under  Charles 
B.  Thompson;  and  there  was  one  under 
the  leadership  of  Gladden  Bishop  at  Little 
Sioux,  Iowa;  and  there  was  another  one 
attempted  by  James  Colin  Brewster  at 
various  times  since  1844;  there  was  one 
by  William  Bickerton  called  the  "Bicker- 
[28] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


tonites,"  and  there  was  one  by  Granville 
Heclrick,  and  one  by  William  Smith;  one 
by  Joseph  Morris  called  the  "Morrisites," 
one  by  a  man  called  William  Davis,  called 
the  "Davisites"  or  Canaanites,  a  portion 
of  which  are  at  Walla  Walla  at  the  present 
time ;  and  one  by  David  Whitmer,  and  that 
is  I  believe  what  is  called  "The  Church  of 
Christ/'  I  do  not  remember  any  others 
just  now,  but  there  may  be  more  for  all 
I  know  to  the  contrary.  Yes  sir,  there 
was  a  faction  under  the  leadership  of  Sid- 
ney Rigdon,  that  settled  in  the  Cumber- 
land Valley,  in  Pennsylvania.  There 
were  a  great  many  of  these  factions  into 
which  the  church  broke  up  at  the  time  of 
the  disruption ;  there  ivere  lots  of  aspirants 
to  Moses'  seat.  Sidney  Rigdon  was  a 
member  of  the  old  original  church,  he  was 
at  the  time  of  my  father's  death  a  coun- 
selor or  one  of  the  First  Presidency. 
There  was  also  a  faction  under  the  leader- 
ship of  one  of  the  original  Twelve,  Lyman 
Wight,  that  located  in  Texas,  he  was  one 
of  the  Twelve  at  the  time  of  my  father's 
death.  There  were  one  or  two  more  fac- 
[29] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


tions  that  I  remember  now,  one  led  by 
Zadock  Brooks,  and  one  by  W.  A.  Miner, 
and  I  think  another  called  the  "Church  of 
Zion"  that  was  led  by  Dr.  W.  McClellan 
and  others.  I  do  not  know  that  I  have 
named  all  of  them,  but  that  is  all  I  can 
think  of  just  now." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  pages  84-85. 

Coming  now  to  some  of  the  reorganizers : 
Lyman  Wight  was  one  of  the  aspirants  to 
Moses'  seat,  and  led  off  a  following  to  Texas. 
Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  85. 

William  Smith,  one  of  the  Twelve,  brother 
to  the  martyr,  uncle  to  Joseph  III,  set  up  a 
branch  and  claimed  the  successorship  in  his 
Dwn  right. 

Jason  W.  Briggs,  in  his  testimony,  states 
unequivocally : 

"It    was    William    Smith,    brother    of 
Joseph  Smith,  Junior,  the  prophet.     We 
became    connected  with  the  faction  that 
acknowledged  him  as  its  leader. 
[30] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


"We  became  associated  with  that  fac- 
tion, as  guardian  for  the  seed  of  Joseph 
Smith,  as  presiding  authority  until  the 
seed  of  Joseph  should  claim  that  right  and 
priority  which  belonged  to  them.  Now 
that  is  an  answer  to  the  question,  I  be- 
lieve. William  Smith  taught  it  in  that 
light.  Yes,  sir,  he  taught  it  in  the  begin- 
ning, but  he  did  not  continue  to  teach  it 
in  that  light ;  he  subsequently  claimed  it  as 
his  own  right.  I  became  associated  with 
the  William  Smith  leadership  about  the 
first  of  the  year  1851  and  continued  with 
him  until  the  next  fall.  I  was  with  him 
a  little  less  than  a  year." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  395. 

Jason  W.  Briggs,  the  man  the  reorganizers 
claim  received  a  revelation  calling  Joseph  III 
to  the  presidency,  a  member  of  the  church  in 
1841,  first  joined  the  Strangites  and  recognized 
Strang  as  the  successor,  and  after  "cutting 
loose"  from  Strang,  joined  with  the  William 
Smith  faction  and  recognized  him. 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  395. 
[31] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


In  1885,  he  became  dissatisfied  with  the  re- 
organizers  and  "cut  loose"  from  them. 

Zenas  H.  Gurley,  one  who  officiated  at  the 
so-called  ordination  of  Joseph  III,  as  president 
of  the  reorganized  church,  joined  Strang  whom 
he  recognized  as  the  true  successor,  and  after- 
ward joined  the  William  Smith  faction  and 
recognized  William  Smith  as  successor. 

"After  we  left  Strang,  myself  and  most 
of  the  branch  of  Beloit,  became  associated 
with  William  Smith's  organization.  It 
was  William  Smith,  brother  of  Joseph 
Smith,  Junior,  the  Prophet,  we  became 
connected  with  the  faction  that  acknowl- 
edged him  as  its  leader. 

"I  was  acquainted  with  Zenas  H.  Gur- 
ley; he  was  a  member  of  the  church  pre- 
sided over  by  Strang.  I  should  say  that 
Gurley  was  a  member  of  the  organization 
presided  over  by  Strang,  but  I  have  no 
knowledge  on  that  subject.  I  understood 
that  Gurley  was  the  presiding  elder  of 
that  branch  at  one  time.  He  attended  the 
conference  at  which  the  reorganization 
[32] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


was   effected,    as    from   the    Yellowstone 
branch,  and  represented  that  branch." 

Testimony  of  Jason  W.  Briggs,  Ab- 
stract of  Evidence,  pages  395,  396. 

Sidney  Rigdon,  a  counselor  to  Joseph  the 
prophet,  was  another  aspirant  for  the  successor- 
ship  and  had  quite  a  following  for  some  time, 
among  whom  was  William  Marks. 

William  Marks,  mentioned  as  being  present 
when  the  selection  mentioned  by  Whitehead 
took  place,  the  man  who.  acted  as  spokesman 
at  the  ordination  of  Joseph  III  as  president  of 
the  so-called  reorganized  church,  was  a  fol- 
lower of  Rigdon  as  successor  for  a  time,  but 
in  December,  1844,  caused  the  following  notice 
to  be  published  in  the  Times  and  Seasons,  at 
page  742 : 

"NOTICE. 

"After  mature  and  candid  deliberation, 

I  am   fully  and  satisfactorily    convinced 

that  Mr.   Sidney  Rigdon's  claims  to  the 

presidency  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 

[33] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


of  Latter-Day  Saints,  are  not  founded  in 
truth.  I  have  been  deceived  by  his  spe- 
cious pretenses,  and  now  feel  to  warn 
everyone  over  whom  I  may  have  any  in- 
fluence to  beware  of  him,  and  his  pretend- 
ed visions  and  revelations.  The  Twelve 
are  the  proper  persons  to  lead  the  church. 

"WILLIAM  MARKS. 
"Nauvoo,  Dec.  9,  1844." 

Please  note  the  wording  of  this  notice,  con- 
sider the  man  whose  name  is  attached  to  it,  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  published,  and  then 
answer  this.  Why,  if  he  was  present  when 
Joseph  III  was  selected  or  appointed  in  a  meet- 
ing over  which  Marks  presided,  (he  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Nauvoo  Stake,  and  in  all  probability 
would  preside)  as  mentioned  by  Whitehead, 
and  also  John  H.  Carter,  did  he  word  that 
notice  as  he  did?  Why  did  he  not  then  say 
"I  was  present  at  such  a  time  and  heard  Joseph 
the  prophet  name  his  successor?"  The  notice 
above  set  forth,  and  the  actions  of  Marks 
[34] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


utterly  refute  any  such  statements  of  a  selection 
or  appointment. 

Joseph  III  states  under  oath  that  he  does 
not  claim  any  revelation,  appointing  him  as  his 
father's  successor  was  given  to  the  prophet. 

"I  do  not  know  whether  the  revelation 
spoken  of  by  Mr.  Whitehead  in  his  testi- 
mony, by  which  I  was  selected  by  my 
father  as  his  successor  was  submitted  to 
the  quorums;  I  do  not  know  that  it  was, 
and  I  do  not  know  that  it  was  not.  I  do 
not  claim  that  it  was,  and  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  I  do  not  make  the  statement 
that  there  was  any  such  revelation  given. 
So  far  as  I  am  concerned  I  did  not,  and 
have  not  made  any  such  a  statement.  My 
statement  is,  that  I  do  not  know  anything 
whatever  about  it.  I  do  not  know 
whether  the  revelation  was  given  or  not. 
I  cannot  say  that  if  such  a  revelation  had 
been  given  and  had  not  been  submitted  to 
the  quorums,  that  it  would  be  or  would 
not  be  valid.  /  could  have  been  properly 
ordained,  under  the  laws  of  the  reorgan- 
[35] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


ized  church,  to  the  office  I  now  hold,  with- 
out a  revelation  to  that  effect  from  my 
father.  Yes,  sir,  you  understand  me  cor- 
rectly; I  claim  that  I  could  properly  be 
ordained  and  qualified  and  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  office  I  now  hold,  without  a 
revelation  to  that  effect  to  my  father.  I 
make  that  claim." 

"No,  sir,  I  did  not  state  that  I  was  or- 
dained by  my  father;  I  did  not  make  the 
statement.  I  was  not  ordained  by  my 
father  as  his  successor;  according  to  my 
understanding  of  the  word  ordain,  I  was 
not." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  pages  63,  79. 

The  acts  and  statements  of  all  these  men 
show  beyond  any  question  that  the  so-called 
appointment  mentioned  by  Whitehead  was 
never  made. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  many  of 
the  above  mentioned  men,  who  had  assumed  to 
be  the  successor,  and  who  had  been  "aspirants 
to  Moses'  seat,"  and  their  followers  have  since 
landed  in  the  so-called  reorganized  church,  and 
[36] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


doffed  their  caps  to  Joseph  III  as  the  true  suc- 
cessor. 

I  do  not  desire  to  take  the  position  that  Mr. 
\\hitehead  has  knowingly  testified  falsely;  I 
believe  he  was  probably  present  when  Young 
Joseph  was  confirmed  or  blessed  after  baptism 
and  has  become  mixed  as  to  just  what  was 
done. 

John  H.  Carter,  Sr.,  is  another  man  who 
makes  the  claim  that  Joseph  III  was  pointed  out 
in  a  meeting  in  Nauvoo  as  his  father's  suc- 
cessor. Practically  the  same  arguments  in 
opposition  to  the  claims  of  Wight  and  White- 
head  apply  to  the  statement  of  Carter. 

On  this  question  of  the  appointment  of 
Joseph  III  as  successor,  let  us  read  some  law : 

"And  this  ye  shall  know  assuredly  that 
there  is  none  other  appointed  unto  you  to 
receive  commandments  and  revelations 
until  he  be  taken,  if  he  abide  in  me." 

D.  C.  Sec.  43  v.  3. 
[37] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


This  law  proves  absolutely  and  conclusively 
that  Joseph  III  was  not  appointed  by  his  father 
to  be  the  successor. 

It  is  the  word  of  God  against  the  statements 
of  Lyman  Wight,  James  Whitehead,  John  H. 
Carter,  Sr.,  and  others  who  have  made  a  like 
statement. 


[38] 


III. 

JOSEPH  III  WAS  NOT  ORDAINED  BY 
DIRECTION  OF  A  HIGH  COUNCIL 
OR  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF 
THE  CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST 
OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

Three  of  the  main  movers  in  the  reorganiza- 
tion were  Wm.  Marks,  Zenas  H.  Gurley  and 
\V.  W.  Blair,  they  were  the  three  who  officiated 
at  the  so-called  ordination. 

William  Marks,  whom  we  have  seen  was  a 
follower  of  Sidney  Rigdon,  and  who  had  an- 
nounced, after  "mature  and  candid  delibera- 
tion' on  December  9,  1844,  that  he  had  been 
"deceived  by  the  specious  pretenses  of  Sidney 
Rigdon,"  had  after  the  mature  and  candid  de- 
liberation warned  the  people  that  the  Twelve 
ivere  the  proper  persons  to  lead  the  church,  and 
who  for  many  years  was  either  a  dormant 
member  of  the  church  or  a  follower  of  one  of 
[39] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


the  deceived  "factions/'  was  the  main  mover, 
and  was  spokesman. 

Zenas  H.  Gurley,  whom  we  have  seen  was 
a  follower  of  Strang  as  the  true  successor,  and 
then  of  William  Smith,  and  who  in  the  old 
church  was  an  elder,  was  the  second  in  the 
movement. 

W.  W.  Blair,  who  was  ordained  an  elder  by 
Gurley,  and  was  as  early  as  1857,  one  of  the 
so-called  twelve,  and  who  in  1859  became  a 
Counselor  in  a  Presidency  without  a  President, 
was  third  in  the  scheme  of  ordaining  a  presi- 
dent. 

The  others  who  constituted  the  so-called 
body  of  the  pretended  church  (there  were  150 
members,  Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  39)  had 
either  been  dormant  members  for  sixteen  years 
or  had  been  following  every  wind  of  doctrine 
under  the  leadership  of  either  Strang,  Wight, 
Smith,  Cutler,  Chas.  B.  Thompson,  Gladden 
Bishop,  James  Colin  Brewster,  William  Bicker- 
ton,  Granville  Hedrick,  William  Davis,  David 
[40] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


\Yhitmer,  Sidney  Rigdon,  Zadock  Brooks,  W. 
A.  Miner,  Dr.  McClellan  or  some  of  the  other 
numerous  leaders. 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  pages  84  and 
85.  See  quotation  in  full  on  page 
28  above. 

What  does  the  law  say  of  such    dormant 
members  ? 

"3.  And  this  shall  be  the  beginning  of 
the  tithing  of  my  people ; 

"4.  And  after  that,  those  who  have  thus 
been  tithed  shall  pay  one-tenth  of  all  their 
interest  annually ;  and  this  shall  be  a  stand- 
ing law  unto  them  forever,  for  my  holy 
Priesthood,  saith  the  Lord. 

"5.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  all  those  who  gather 
unto  the  land  of  Zion  shall  be  tithed  of 
their  surplus  property,  and  shall  observe 
this  law,  or  they  shall  not  be  found  worthy 
to  abide  among  you.3' 

B.C.  Sec.  119  vs.  3-5. 
[41] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Strange  to  say,  it  was  the  neglect  to  obey 
this  law  that  drove  so  many  of  the  weak  in 
faith  to  join  the  factional  leaders,  and  to  be- 
come disgruntled  with  the  proper  person  lead- 
ing the  church;  yet  the  first  pretended  revela- 
tion published  in  the  so-called  "Book  of  Doc- 
trine and  Covenants/'  of  the  pretended  reor- 
ganized church  contains  an  order  to  obey  the 
law  of  tithing. 

"In  order  to  place  the  church  in  a  posi- 
tion to  carry  on  the  promulgation  of  the 
gospel,  and  as  a  means  of  fulfilling  the 
law,  the  twelve  will  take  measures  in  con- 
nection with  the  bishop,  to  execute  the 
law  of  tithing;  and  let  them  before  God 
see  to  it,  that  the  temporal  means  so  ob- 
tained is  truly  used  for  the  purposes  of 
the  church,  and  not  as  a  weapon  of  power 
in  the  hands  of  one  man  for  the  oppression 
of  others,  or  for  the  purposes  of  self- 
aggrandizement  by  anyone,  be  he  whom- 
soever he  maybe." 

"As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord,  in  the  man- 
[42] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


ner  ye  execute  this  matter,  so  shall  ye  be 
judged  in  the  day  of  judgment." 

Sec.  114,  DC.,  given  October  7,  1861. 

It  seems  these  so-called  reorganizes  were 
not  following  any  law  or  precedent  in  1860. 

The  First  High  Council  in  the  church  was 
organized  in  strict  accordance  with  revelation : 

"1.  This  day  a  general  council  of 
twenty- four  High  Priests  assembled  at  the 
house  of  Joseph  Smith,  jun.,  by  revelation, 
and  proceeded  to  organize  the  High 
Council  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  which 
*vas  to  consist  of  twelve  High  Priests,  and 
one  or  three  Presidents,  as  the  case  might 
require. 

"2.  The  High  Council  was  appointed 
by  revelation  for  the  purpose  of  settling 
important  difficulties  which  might  arise 
in  the  church,  which  could  not  be  settled 
by  the  church  or  the  bishop's  council  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  parties/' 

D.  C.  Sec.  102  vs.  1,2, 
[43] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


These  reorgamzers  had  a  High  Council  with- 
out even  a  pretended  deliverance. 

E.  C.  Briggs  states  in  his  testimony : 

"I  am  not  certain,  but  I  think  the  stand- 
ing High  Council  was  chosen/' 

He  is  speaking  of  the  Conference  of  1860 
at  Amboy. 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  199. 

They  had  a  Fractional  Quorum  of  Twelve 
Apostles  as  early  as  1852  without  any  pretend- 
ed revelation. 

No  revelation  was  necessary  with  these  re- 
organizers;  they  just  appointed  of  the  reorgan- 
izers,  just  chose  and  set  apart  seven  members 
of  the  twelve. 

Joseph  III,  in  his  testimony,  says: 

"Possibly  it  may  have  been  at  the  con- 
ference of  1852,  of  the  reorganized  church, 
(the  history  states)  that  there  was  a  num- 
ber of  apostles  appointed  of  the  reorgani- 
[44] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


zation.  Seven  were  chosen  from  among 
the  people,  or  the  elders  or  ministers  pres- 
ent, and  they  were  chosen  and  set  apart 
to  act  in  the  apostolic  office/' 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  81. 

Yet,  in  the  selection  of  the  first  Twelve,  set 
apart  in  Joseph's  day,  God  considered  it  so  im- 
portant that  He  selected  and  Joseph  set  apart 
the  Three  Witnesses  to  the  Book  of  Mormon 
to  select  twelve  men  according  to  their  fitness. 
Two  of  the  three  witnesses  were  set  apart  for 
this  important  mission  by  direct  revelation 
from  God : 

"37.  And  now,  behold,  I  give  unto  you 
Oliver  Cowdery,  and  also  unto  David 
Whitmer,  that  you  shall  search  out  the 
Twelve,  who  shall  have  the  desires  of 
which  I  have  spoken ; 

"38.  And  by  their  desires  and  their 
works  you  shall  know  them ; 

"39.  And  when  you  have  found  them 
you  shall  show  these  things  unto  them." 

D.  C.  Sec.  18  vs.  37,  38,  39. 
[45] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


"30.  For  unto  you,  (the  Twelve)  and 
those  (the  First  Presidency)  who  are  ap- 
pointed with  you,  to  be  your  counselors 
and  your  leaders,  is  the  power  of  this 
Priesthood  given,  for  the  last  days  and 
for  the  last  time,  in  the  which  is  the  dis- 
pensation of  the  fullness  of  times. 

"31.  Which  power  you  hold  in  connec- 
tion with  all  those  who  have  received  a 
dispensation  at  any  time  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  creation ; 

"32.  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  the 
keys  of  the  dispensation  which  ye  have 
received,  have  come  down  from  the  fath- 
ers ;  and  last  of  all,  being  sent  down  from 
heaven  unto  you." 

B.C.  Sec.  112  vs.  30,  31,32. 

As  to  the  claim  of  this  so-called  church  to  be 
the  true  successor  to  the  Church  established  in 
1830,  let  us  take  some  history  they  have  made. 

This  so-called  reorganized  church  claimed 
to  be  the  successor  in  interest  of  the  mother 
church  to  certain  lots  of  ground  in  Independ- 
ence, Mo.,  and  commenced  a  suit  in  equity 
[46] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


against  a  so-called  Church  of  Christ  at  Inde- 
pendence in  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States,  Western  District  of  Missouri,  Western 
Division  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

In  the  complaint,  the  so-called  church  alleged 
its  right  and  title  in  and  to  what  are  known  as 
the  Temple  Lots,  it  employed  the  best  legal 
ability  obtainable  and  presented  all  the  evidence 
that  could  be  found  by  the  most  diligent  search. 
Not  a  stone  was  left  unturned.  The  case  was 
tried  first  before  the  Circuit  Judge,  Phillips, 
and  decided  in  favor  of  the  so-called  reorgan- 
ized church,  and  the  defendant  appealed  to  the 
Circuit  Court  of  Appeals,  and  this  court  after 
fully  reviewing  the  matters  before  it,  says : 

"In  accordance  with  the  views  herein 
expressed,  the  decree  of  the  circuit  court 
will  be  reversed,  and  the  cause  will  be 
remanded  with  directions  to  dismiss  the 
bill  of  complaint." 


[47] 


IV. 

THE  CLAIM  MADE  BY  THE  SO- 
CALLED  REORGANIZED  CHURCH, 
THAT  THE  OFFICE  OF  PRESIDENT 
OF  THE  CHURCH  SHOULD  DE- 
SCEND TO  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  POS- 
TERITY OF  JOSEPH,  THE  PROPH- 
ET, IS  NOT  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH 
THE  LAW. 

A.  The  law  as  laid  dawn  in  Section  107, 
D.  C.  39,  40,  and  41,  does  not  substantiate  any 
such  claim: 

"39.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Twelve,  in 
all  large  branches  of  the  church,  to  ordain 
evangelical  ministers,  as  they  shall  be  des- 
ignated to  them  by  revelation. 

"40.  The  order  of  this  Priesthood  was 
confirmed  to  be  handed  down  from  father 
to  son,  and  rightly  belongs  to  the  literal 
descendants  of  the  chosen  seed,  to  whom 
the  promises  were  made. 
[48] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


"41.  This  order  was  instituted  in  the 
days  of  Adam,  and  came  down  by  lineage 
in  the  following  manner:" 

By  reading  the  above  quotation  it  will  be 
seen  that  it  refers  to  Evangelical  Ministers,  or 
Patriarchs.  Verse  39  is  an  order  to  the 
Twelve  to  ordain  Patriarchs,  as  designated  to 
them  by  revelation.  Verse  40  further  instructs 
the  Twelve  that  this  order  of  Priesthood,  the 
order  of  Patriarchs,  was  to  be  handed  down 
from  father  to  son,  because  it  is  a  right  which 
belongs  to  the  literal  descendants  of  those 
chosen  by  revelation. 

There  are  only  two  Priesthoods  in  the 
church,  the  Aaronic,  or  lesser,  and  the  Mel- 
chizedek,  or  greater,  but  there  are  many  orders 
or  divisions  of  each,  or  quorums. 

"The  Patriarch  is  an  Evangelical  Minister." 

DC.  page  386,    under    head    "Evan- 
gelical Ministers." 

"39.     So    that    Lamech  the  father  of 
Noah,  Methuselah,  Enoch,  Tared,  Mahal- 
[491 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


aleel,  Cainan,  Enos,  Seth  and  Adam  were 
all  living  at  the  same  time,  and,  beyond 
all  controversy  were  all  preachers  of  right- 
eousness." 

II   Lecture   on   Faith   v.    39,   D.    C. 
page  17. 

From  a  reading  of  the  last  quotation  it  seems 
that  Adam  and  eight  of  his  literal  descendants 
were  on  the  earth  at  once,  we  know  they  were 
all  Patriarchs,  but  who  would  have  the  effront- 
ery to  say  they  were  all  presidents  of  the 
church. 

From  the  following  verses  in  Sec.  107  the 
dates  of  ordination  of  the  different  descendants 
of  Adam  are  set  out  and  then  we  are  told  they 
were  all  High  Priests,  but  not  that  they  were 
presidents  of  the  church,  or  even  Presidents  of 
the  High  Priesthood. 

Seth,  according  to  the  only  history  we  have 
was  not  the  head  of  the  Posterity  of  Adam. 

B.     The  law  as  laid  down  in  Sec.  124,  D.  C. 
vs.  56,  57,  58,  59,  60,  and  61,  does  not  show 
[50] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


that  the  presidency  of  the  church  was  to  go  to 
the  Head  of  the  posterity  of  Joseph  the  seer. 

"56.  And  now  I  say  unto  you,  as  per- 
taining to  my  boarding  house  which  I 
commanded  you  to  build  for  the  boarding 
of  strangers,  let  it  be  built  unto  my  name, 
and  let  my  name  be  named  upon  it,  and  let 
my  servant  Joseph,  and  his  house  have 
place  therein,  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion ; 

"57.  For  this  anointing  have  I  put 
upon  his  head,  that  his  blessing  shall  be 
put  upon  the  head  of  his  posterity  after 
him, 

"58.  And  as  I  said  unto  Abraham  con- 
cerning the  kindreds  of  the  earth,  even 
so  I  say  unto  my  servant  Joseph,  in  thee 
and  in  they  seed  shall  the  kindred  of  the 
earth  be  blessed. 

"59.  Therefore,  let  my  servant  Joseph 
and  his  seed  after  him  have  place  in  that 
house,  from  generation  to  generation,  for 
ever  and  ever,  saith  the  Lord, 

"60.  And  let  the  name  of  that  house 
be  called  Nauvoo  house,  and  let  it  be  a 
[51] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


delightful  habitation  for  man,  and  a  rest- 
ing place  for  the  weary  traveler,  that  he 
may  contemplate  the  glory  of  Zion,  and 
the  glory  of  this  .the  corner-stone  thereof. 
"61.  That  he  may  receive  also  the 
counsel  from  those  whom  I  have  set  to  be 
as  plants  of  renown,  and  as  watchmen 
upon  her  walls/' 

We  see  from  reading  this  entire  section  that 
Joseph  and  his  associates  were  told  to  build  a 
boarding  house,  it  was  to  be  built  by  a  joint 
stock  company,  many  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  church  were  to  buy  stock,  or  take  stock  in 
the  company,  and  were  to  have  place  or  an 
interest  in  the  undertaking  from  generation  to 
generation. 

By  reading  the  following  verses  it  is  readily 
seen  that  this  is  what  is  meant : 

"74.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you  con- 
cerning my  servant  Vinson  Knight,  if  he 
will  do  my  will,  let  him  put  stock  into  that 
house  for  himself,  and  for  his  generation 
after  him,  from  generation  to  generation. 
[52] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


"77.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  let  my 
servant  Hyrum  put  stock  into  that  house 
as  seemeth  him  good,  for  himself  and  his 
generation  after  him,  from  generation  to 
generation. 

"78.     Same  order  as  to  Isaac  Galland. 

"80.     Same  order  as  to  William  Marks. 

"81.  Same  order  as  to  Henry  G.  Sher- 
wood. 

"82.  William  Law  is  to  pay  for  stock 
and  have  it  for  his  seed  from  generation 
to  generation. 

In  verse  56  above  quoted  it  is  seen  that 
Joseph  and  his  house,  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration, are  to  have  place  in  the  Nauvoo  house 
and  in  the  verse  following  it  is  said  this 
anointing  have  I  put  upon  his  head  that  his 
blessing,  that  of  having  a  place  in  the  Nauvoo 
house,  was  to  be  put  upon  the  head  of  his  pos- 
terity; and  then  after  giving  full  direction  as 
to  how  the  posterity  are  to  have  place  in  that 
house  the  Lord  recapitulates  and  says  "There- 
fore let  my  servant  Joseph  and  his  seed,"  etc., 
etc. 

[531 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


C.  The  reorganized  church  claims  that  the 
original  church  was  disrupted  June  27th,  1844. 

This  is  taking  the  exact  position  of  the  as- 
sassins of  Joseph  and  Hyrum,  who  claimed 
that  their  death  would  be  the  end  of  "Mor- 
monism." 

Loyal  members  believed  no  such  stuff.  We 
might  just  as  well  take  the  stand  that  the  cru- 
cifixion of  Jesus  was  the  end  of  Christianity. 

Nevertheless,  this  is  the  stand  the  reorgan- 
izers  take.  They  repudiate  all  acts  of  the 
church  after  that  date,  June  27,  1844. 

Question — How  could  a  "disrupted  church" 
do  any  act  binding  upon  the  members,  or  how 
could  any  of  its  official  actions  be  valid? 

Section  107  was  received  in  March,  1835, 
but  was  never  published  in  book  form  until  the 
Liverpool  Edition  of  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants was  published,  under  authority  of  the 
Church  over  which  Brigham  Young  was  pre- 
siding, in  1845. 

Section  124  was  received  in  January,  1841> 
[54] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


hut  this  was  not  published  in  book  form  until 
the  Liverpool  Edition  of  the  Doctrine  and 
Covenants  was  published  in  1845,  under  the 
authority  of  the  Church,  presided  over  by 
Brigham  Young. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants was  published  in  1835  and  neither  of  the 
above  mentioned  sections  was  in  that  edition. 

The  so-called  reorganized  church  absolutely 
repudiates  both  of  these  revelations. 

"The  book  marked  Exhibit  E,  being  the 
book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  was  en- 
dorsed by  the  original  Church,  and  also 
by  the  Reorganized  Church,  the  plaintiff 
in  this  case,  being  the  1835  edition." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  29,  Tes- 
timony of  James  Whitehead. 

"I  always  understood  that  the  standard 
books  of  the  church  were  the  Bible,  Book 
of  Mormon,  and  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and 
Covenants ;  these  were  the  standard  books 
in  the  church  from  1842  to  June  27,  1844. 
I  mean  when  I  refer  to  the  Bible,  the 
King  James  Translation,  and  I  mean  the 
[55] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


first  book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants  that 
I  ever  saw,  the  edition  of  1835. " 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  394,  Tes- 
timony of  Jason  W.  Briggs. 

James  Whitehead,  testifying,  also  makes 
this  broad  and  false  statement  in  reference  to 
this  subject: 

"Exhibit  F,  being  the  1874  edition  of 
the  Book  of  Mormon,  published  at  La- 
moni,  Iowa,  is  the  same  in  text  as  exhibit 
DD,  and  is  correct,  and  was  recognized 
by  the  original  church  as  a  book  of  doc- 
trine, and  is  also  by  the  reorganized 
church.  Exhibit  G,  being  the  1845  edi- 
tion of  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants; and  exhibit  H,  being  the  1846  edi- 
tion of  the  same  book,  and  exhibit  I,  be- 
ing the  1852  edition  of  the  same  book ;  and 
exhibit  J,  being  the  1880  edition  of  the 
Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  were  all 
recognized  books  of  doctrine  of  the  orig- 
inal church  from  1830  to  1844.  The 
books  themselves  show  what  portions 
have  been  added  since  1844." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  29. 
[56] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


None  of  the  books  mentioned  in  this  last 
quotation  could  have  possibly  been  adopted  by 
the  church  prior  to  the  time  they  were  pub- 
lished, and  they  were  all  published  after  1844. 
And  the  two  revelations  we  are  discussing  were 
not  published  in  book  form  until  after  the 
alleged  disruption. 

E.  C.  Briggs  gives  some  straight  testimony 
on  this  question,  which  is  pertinent: 

"Prior  to  1845,  the  Book  of  Doctrine 
and  Covenants  had  been  adopted  by  the 
church.  It  was  received  by  the  church  in 
1835 ;  that  was  the  time  that  most  of  the 
revelations  were  published;  only  three  or 
four  were  received  after  that  time.  These 
letters  were  first  published  in  the  1845 
edition;  that  is  my  memory.  That  book 
published  in  1845  was  never  adopted  by 
the  church ;  it  could  not  have  been,  for  the 
reason  that  the  church,  as  a  church,  had 
been  rejected  at  that  time,  and  the  church 
as  an  organization  had  been  rejected  at 
that  time.  I  do  not  think  anyone  posted 
in  our  religion  would  present  that  book 
[57] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


published  in  1845  as  an  authority  in  the 
church,  and  so  I  say  the  book  has  never 
been  presented  here  in  that  way." 
Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  202. 

Now  we  have  three  of  the  witnesses  intro- 
duced on  behalf  of  the  so-called  reorganized 
church  repudiating  the  two  revelations  which 
they  seem  to  get  their  great  comfort  from,  and 
under  every  rule  of  law,  they  are  estopped  from 
claiming  anything  from  them.  They  are  bound 
absolutely  by  this  evidence,  because  in  offering 
a  witness  they  vouch  for  his  truth  and  veracity 
and  also  for  his  knowledge  of  the  matters  in 
reference  to  which  he  is  testifying. 

D.  Joseph  III,  under  oath,  repudiates  the 
necessity  of  lineal  descent. 

"I  claim  to  be  his  successor  by  lineal 
right,  and  by  his  blessing,  and  lastly  by 
the  right  of  selection  and  appointment. 
It  is  not  necessarily  a  birthright  to  be  the 
President  of  the  Church.  It  comes  by 
virtue  of  fitness  and  qualification,  I  may 
[58] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


say,  good  behavior  and  the  choice  of  the 
people,  recognizing  a  call  or  right.  Lineal 
rights  do  not  necessarily  assume  these 
qualifications.  In  my  case  I  cannot  say 
that  it  assumed  these  qualifications;  that 
is  a  matter  I  apprehend  to  be  proven.  I 
do  not  know  whether  the  doctrine  of  lineal 
right  was  a  doctrine  of  the  church  prior 
to  the  death  of  my  father.  I  do  not  know 
other  than  what  may  be  found  in  the 
books,  and  they  are  open  to  the  inspection 
of  all,  there  is  a  traditional  teaching  in 
the  books  to  that  effect.  In  the  church  to 
which  I  belong  it  is  not  a  lineal  right, 
excepting  so  far  as  it  is  found  in  the 
books.  The  right  of  the  firstborn  is  found 
in  the  Book  of  Mormon,  and  also  in  the 
Bible.  That  is  the  traditional  right  of  the 
first  born  to  whatever  may  attach  to  the 
parent.  That  right  is  expressed  or  under- 
stood in  such  way  that  whatever  rights  I 
hold  or  am  gifted  with  by  reason  of  the 
position  I  hold,  would  descend  to  my  eld- 
est son,  with  certain  qualifications,  all 
other  things  being  equal.  The  same  at- 
taches to  the  firstborn  of  every  family. 

[59] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Now  the  claim  of  the  reorganized  church 
to  the  successorship  of  the  original 
is  a  claim  of  the  individuals  who  were 
members  of  the  church  at  the  time  of  my 
father's  death,  and  who  hold  their  mem- 
bership, and  their  rights  to  be  regarded  as 
members  of  the  body  of  the  reorganized 
church.  I  do  not  regard  my  lineal  suc- 
cessorship as  one  of  the  claims,  not  neces- 
sarily. The  existence  of  the  reorganized 
church  does  not  depend  on  my  lineal  suc- 
cessorship as  I  understand  it." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  pages  79,  80. 


[60] 


V. 

JOSEPH  III  HAS  NOT  BEEN  CALLED  A 
PROPHET,  SEER  AND  REVELATOR 
SINCE  HIS  SO-CALLED  ORDINA- 
TION. 

In  the  evidence  given  by  him  in  the  Temple 
Lot  Suit,  he  does  not  call  himself  either  a 
prophet,  seer  or  revelator;  but  he  does  call  the 
so-called  revelations  deliverances. 

In  speaking  of  them  he  says: 

"The  subsequent  pages  of  exhibit  J, 
from  page  336,  contain  deliverances  from 
the  President  of  the  church.  These  were 
delivered  to  the  church  by  me  as  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Reorganized  Church.  These 
have  been  accepted  by  the  church  to  which 
I  belong/' 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  74. 

I  desire  to  briefly  call  attention  to  these  dc- 
Hi'cranccs,  as  they  are  really  interesting. 
[61] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Deliverance  No.  1,  Sec.  114  DC.,  given  Oct. 
7,  1861. 

This  was  not  given  to  the  so-called  president, 
but  purports  to  have  been  given  to  the 
"Twelve." 

It  has  been  quoted  in  full  and  is  an  order  to 
obey  the  law  of  tithing.  Note  that  it  is  ad- 
dressed to  the  Twelve  who  were  chosen  pre- 
sumably in  1852. 

Deliverance  No.  2,  Sec.  115,  given  March, 
1863. 

Marks  gets  return  for  his  kindness  in  or- 
daining Joseph  III,  in  this  first  deliverance  de- 
livered to  the  church  by  Joseph,  as  president 
of  the  reorganized  church. 

Why  was  this  deliverance  necessary  when 
Marks  was  occupying  this  very  position  in 
1860? 

Of  this  E.  C.  Briggs  says,  in  his  testimony : 

"At  the  conference  of  1860  there  was 
a  counselor  appointed  to  the  presidency 
of   the   church,    a   first   counselor.     That 
[62] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


was  William  Marks,  the  same  William 
Marks  who  prior  to  the  death  of  Joseph 
Smith,  had  been  President  of  the  High 
Council  at  Nauvoo." 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  page  199. 

Let  me  add  that  it  was  the  same  William 
Marks  who  said :  After  mature  and  can- 
did  deliberation  "the  Twelve  are  the  proper 
persons  to  lead  this  church." 

Deliverance  No.  3,  Sec.  116,  DC.,  given  May 
4,  1865. 

This  was  some  instructions  in  reference  to 
ordaining  men  of  the  negro  race  to  offices. 

Deliverance  No.  4,  Sec.  117,  DC.,  given 
March  3,  1873. 

This  is  rather  a  peculiar  deliverance  under 
the  circumstances,  as  it  is  an  order  to  ordain 
seven  members  of  the  Quorum  of  the  Twelve, 
when  seven  had  already  been  ordained  and 
doing  business  for  nineteen  years  without  any 
revelation. 

"Possibly  it  may  have  been  at  the  con- 
[63] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


ference  of  1852,  of  the  Reorganized 
Church,  (the  history  states)  that  there 
was  a  number  of  apostles  appointed  of  the 
reorganization.  Seven  were  chosen  from 
among  the  people,  or  the  elders  or  minis- 
ters present,  and  they  were  chosen  and  set 
apart  to  act  in  the  Apostolic  office." 

Testimony   of  Joseph   III,   Abstract 
of  Evidence,  page  81. 

The  one  who  gave  this  deliverance  must  have 
forgotten  the  Seven  Apostles  who  were  set 
apart  to  act  in  1852,  and  the  Twelve  mentioned 
in  deliverances  Nos.  1  and  3. 

Deliverance  No.  5,  Sec.  118  DC.,  given  Sept. 
28,  1882. 

This  was  evidently  given  to  settle  some  dif- 
ferences among  the  Seven  members  of  the 
Twelve. 

Deliverance  No.  6,  Sec.  119  DC.,  given  April 
11,  1887. 

This  deliverance  seems  to  have  been  occa- 
sioned by  the  so-called  priesthood  telling  vulgar 
stories  in  their  meetings ;  and  there  was  much 
[64] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


contention  over  the  sacrament  and  song  sen 

Deliverance  No.  7,  Sec.  120  DC.,  given  April 
8,  1890. 

This  was  a  sort  of  compromise  between  the 
First  Presidency  and  the  so-called  Twelve. 

Deliverance  No.  8,  Sec.  121,  given  April, 
1885. 

Questions  of  the  members  at  the  conference 
called  forth  this  deliverance.  This  was  the 
year  that  J.  W.  Briggs  cut  loose  from  the 
reorganization.  According  to  this  section,  J.  W. 
Briggs  and  Z.  H.  Gurley  were  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  conference,  and  the  manner  of  handling 
may  have  had  something  to  do  with  his  sever- 
ing himself  from  the  church. 

Deliverance  No.  9,  Sec.  122  DC.,  given  April 
15,  1894. 

This  is  another  effort  of  the  deliverancer  to 
settle  questions  of  doctrine.  It  seems  the  ques- 
tions of  doctrine  caused  a  great  deal  of  "con- 
fusion and  trouble,  almost  as  much  as  the 
question  of  successorship. 
[65] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Paul  tells  them  the  trouble,  if  they  would 
but  listen. 

"Even  so,  the  things  of  God  knoweth 
no  man,  but  the  Spirit  of  God." 

Section  123  DC.  does  not  seem  to  be  a  de- 
liverance from  the  president,  but  a  joint  council 
held  to  try  and  settle  differences  without  a  de- 
liverance. 

Deliverance  No.  10,  Sec.  124,  given  April  7, 
1897. 

It  is  now  found  necessary  to  have  a  Patri- 
arch, and  Alexander  H.  Smith  is  selected.  The 
quorum  of  Twelve,  after  thirty-seven  years,  is 
completed. 

It  will  be  very  interesting  to  read  all  of  these 
deliverances,  and  analyze  them  at  some  leisure 
time. 


[66] 


VI. 

THE  SELECTION  OF  JOSEPH  III  BY 
THE  SO-CALLED  REORGANIZED 
CHURCH  IS  IN  DIRECT  OPPOSI- 
TION TO  THE  CALL  OF  JOSEPH 
THE  PROPHET. 

Joseph  the  prophet  .was  selected  by  God  to 
open  this  gospel  dispensation. 

For  years  and  years  he  was  instructed  by 
an  angel  in  the  fundamental  principles  of  the 
church  he  was  to  found ;  he  was  tried  and  tested 
in  every  conceivable  way ;  persecutions  followed 
him  from  his  first  announcement. 

He  was  first  ordained  to  the  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood by  John  the  Baptist;  then  to  the  Mel- 
chizedek  Priesthood  under  the  hands  of  Peter, 
James,  and  John. 

As  the  history  shows,  he  was  a  prophet,  seer 
and  revelator  for  some  time  before  he  was  or- 
dained an  apostle;  he  was  driven  from  place 
[67] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


to  place  by  mobs,  and  imprisoned  for  months 
without  a  hearing.  He  and  Hyrum  sealed 
their  testimony  with  their  blood,  and  by  their 
death,  the  enemies  of  the  church,  thought  to 
put  an  end  to  "Mormonism;"  but  we  believe: 
that  the  blood  of  the  Saints  is  the  seed  of  the 
Church ;  that  those  valiant  patriots,  who  formed 
the  "quorum  next  in  authority/'  and  to  whom 
had  been  given  divine  power  "to  build  up  the 
Church,  and  regulate  all  affairs  of  the  same 
in  all  nations,"  and  who  had  been  given  ex- 
press authority  to  "hold  the  keys  to  open  up 
the  authority  of  My  Kingdom  upon  the  four 
corners  of  the  earth,  and  after  that  to  send  My 
word  to  every  creature;'5  and  who  had  been 
called  by  direct  revelation  from  God,  through 
His  prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  and  who  had  all 
been  ordained  under  the  direction  of  Joseph 
Smith  as  Apostles;  and  who  had  spent  years 
of  their  life,  under  all  manner  of  poverty  and 
affliction  in  the  work  of  the  Lord;  and  who 
were  true  to  their  Church,  to  their  prophet  and 
[68] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


their  God,  after  the  martyrdom,  were,  in  the 
words  of  Williams  Marks,  made  after  mature 
and  candid  deliberation,  the  proper  quorum  to 
lead  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints. 


[69] 


INDEX. 


Abbreviations,  7,  8. 

Abstract  of  Evidence,  8,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  28,  30,  31, 

32,  33,  35,  36,  41,  44,  45,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,  60,  61, 

62,  63,  64. 

Aim  of  Argument,  18. 
Apostles  in  the  Church,  45. 
Apostles  in  reorganized  church,  23,  44. 
Bible,  7,  11,  18,  66. 
Briggs,  E.  C,  44,  57,  61. 
Briggs,  Jason  W.,  22,  30,  31,  32,  33,  55,  56. 
Blair,  W.  W.,  21,  22. 
Carter,  John  H.,  37,  38. 
Church  "disrupted,"  54,  57. 
Claims  of  Elders  of  reorganized  church,   11,   13,   14, 

16,  17. 

Conclusion,  67,  68. 
Dedication,  3. 

"Deliverances,"  61,  62,  63,  64,  65,  66. 
Dismissal  of  Temple  Lot  Suit,  47. 
"Disruption  of  Church,"  54,  57. 

Doctrine  and   Covenants   (Deseret  News  Edition  of 
1890,  abbreviated  D.  C),  7,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16, 

17,  19,  37,  41,  43,  45,  46,  48,  50,  51,  52,  54. 
Doctrine  and  Covenants  (reorganized  church  edition 

1901,  abbreviated  DC.),  8,  42,  49,  62,  63,  64,  65,  66. 
Endorsement,  5. 
Evangelical  Ministers,  49. 

Factions  (enumerated  by  Joseph  III),  28,  29,  40,  41. 
First  High  Council,  43. 
Gurley,  Zenas  H.,  32,  40. 
Introduction,  7. 
Lineal  Descent,  48. 
Marks,  William,  33,  39,  53,  62,  63,  69. 

[71] 


Succession  of  Joseph  III. 


Patriarchs,  49. 

Points  to  be  proven,  19,  20. 

Points  proven — 

I.     Joseph  III  not  called  by  revelation,  21. 
II.     Jospeh  III  not  called  by  revelation  purport- 
ing to  have  been  received  by  Joseph  the 
Prophet,  25. 

III.     Joseph   III    not    ordained    by    direction    of 
High  Council  nor  General  Conference,  39. 
IV.     Doctrine   of  Lineal   Descent  not  in   accord- 
ance with  the  law,  48. 
V.     Joseph   III   not  called  a   Prophet,   Seer  and 

Revelator,  61. 

VI.     Selection  of  Joseph  III  to  preside  over  the 
reorganized  church  compared  with   selec- 
tion of  Joseph,  the  Prophet,  67. 
Rigdon,  Sidney,  29,  33. 

Repudiation  of  necessity  of  lineal  descent,  58. 
Smith,  Joseph  I  (father  of  the  Prophet),  9. 
Smith,  Joseph  II  (the  Prophet),  7,  9,  11,  12,  13,  15, 
16,  18,  19,  20,  24,  25,  30,  31,  43,  45,  48,  51,  52,  54, 
63,  67,  68. 

Smith,  Joseph  III  (son  of  the  prophet),  1,  7,  9,  11, 
18,  19,  20,  21,  23,  25,  28,  30,  32,  33,  34,  35,  37,  38, 
44,  58,  61,  62,  64,  67. 

Smith,  William  (brother  of  Prophet),  30,  32. 
Section  No.  107,  D.  C.,  16,  48,  54. 
Section  124,  D.  C.,  17,  50,  54 
Times  and  Seasons,  9,  33,  34 
Wight,  Lyman,  25,  26,  38. 
Whitehead,  James,  26,  35,  37,  38,  55,  56. 
Word  of  God,  38. 


[72] 


